In the wake of ongoing drought conditions, residents of San Francisco de Conchos, located in northern Mexico’s Chihuahua state, are desperate for rain after enduring thirty straight months without precipitation. As local farmers gather by Lake Toronto, a once-fertile reservoir now reduced to a parched lakebed, they join a priest in prayer, hoping for divine relief. Rafael Betance, a veteran observer of the La Boquilla dam, notes that current water levels are critically low, with only 14% of the dam’s capacity remaining since its last overflow in 2017.
This dire situation is complicated by a longstanding water-sharing dispute between Mexico and Texas. Under a 1944 agreement, Mexico is obligated to supply 430 million cubic meters of water annually to the US from the Rio Grande. In exchange, the US delivers nearly 1.85 billion cubic meters from the Colorado River to Mexican border cities. However, Mexico has fallen behind on its water commitments for much of the century and is currently facing pressure from Texas officials. Former President Trump declared that if Mexico doesn’t fulfill its obligations, repercussions could ensue.
Recent transfers of water from Mexico have taken place, yet they are only a drop in the bucket compared to the nation’s outstanding debt. Farmers in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas voice their concerns, with one blaming Mexico for not meeting the agreement’s terms while Mexican farmers argue the drought precludes them from sharing excess water.
Source: www.bbc.com
About the Author
